Vacuum cleaner filter assembly

Claim 1

In a lightweight vacuum cleaner having a hollow lower housing including an aperture at one end and open at the other end, a filter bag compartment defined within said lower housing, an inlet air conduit having a nozzle at one end, means for securing the conduit to the lower housing with its other end positioned within the aperture, and an upper housing having suction creating means removably secured to the open end of the lower housing with said suction creating means communicating with said filter bag compartment, an improved filter assembly comprising: a support plate including an integral open ended guide tube positioned in said compartment, said guide tube extending from a face of the plate toward the open end of the lower housing and in flow communication registration with said aperture, said plate having a marginal border conforming in size and shape to that of the lower housing at the aperture end, said guide tube being positioned about said other end of the intake air conduit, a frame having elongated legs secured to said plate and extending toward the open end of the lower housing, said frame including a grasping member at the upper extremity of said legs, a porous filter bag having at least two interior compartments, one compartment including a tubular inlet portion receivable about said guide tube, a second compartment having an opening communicating with the first compartment remote from the tubular portion and having a dirt storage cavity remote from the opening, and means for removable securing said tubular inlet portion about said guide tube, said assembly being removable as a unit from the open end of the lower housing.